FBI handling Brad Pitt child abuse allegations, sources and LAPD say

The FBI - and not the Los Angeles Police Department - is handling allegations against Brad Pitt about an incident possibly involving child abuse, the department and federal sources told Fox News Thursday.

An LAPD spokesperson told us, "There was an incident that occurred on [a] plane and the FBI is currently handling it. We're not handling any investigation into this incident...[with] Brad Pitt." The LAPD spokesperson explained because the alleged incident occurred on an airplane, the investigation is out of their jurisdiction so they handed it off to the FBI.

Federal sources told Fox News that they were referred a case in regards to Pitt and his children. They have not officially determined whether there is any merit to the case, but are leaning towards referring the case back to Child Protective Services where a case does exist. This does not mean any law was broken, but that if there was a law or laws broken, the jurisdiction very likely would not reside with the FBI, but with local authorities.

The FBI did not return Fox News’ request for comment. The LA County Department of Child and Family Services told us they are legally prohibited from commenting on whether or not someone is under investigation.